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170,,
necessary to protect the India routes so occupation of
the Sudan was necessary to prcbct the Egyptian frontiers,
There was also anti slave trade feclinV which appeared
in some Conservative resolutions,
i1)
But there were also
a number of psychological arguments which appeared an an
intrinsic part of Imperialismm#
There was a strong fooling that apart from any
other considerations, British honour and prestige demanded
that Gordon be rescued and the Mahdinta routed. As the Timen
put it,
- "The vitality of our
. spire concistn in the conviction
held by friends and foes alike, that in the last report
the words of England and of Englishmen will be backed by
deeds. "
(2)
An intolerable loss of face would follow
any failure to rescue Gordon. A typical Conservative
resolution from Preston Conservative Club claimed that the
Government's policy resulted in "lowering of the national
honour and the deliberate, eacrifico of the interests and of
the jrentigo of England in every quarter of the globs. "
(1) For example in the comments of Conservative members of
the Birmingham Sunday Zvoning Debating Society, eco
minutes of meeting of 9th March 1884,
(2) Quoted from T&mon 31st Einreh 1884, in Ifintory of the
Tiý`s London vol 3. . ý.... _. ý.... r..
(3) M ncheRtar Guirdi, n$ 18th February 1884.
(3)